For more on Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D, check out our full Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D review. Or, for more of the best Nintendo 3DS games for a 10 year old, why not try our Family Game Finder
Splinter Cell 3D, a 3DS version of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is all about being a spy - you need to creep into a complex, find what you need, and get out, without being detected. Violence is a last resort, something you only have to use if you get caught out, as the main push here is in getting you to think.
Each level requires you to make numerous decisions as to how you should progress through the level, and practically each room you enter has a unique situation that needs thinking through. Whether you're observing a guard's patrol pattern, to figure out how you can slink by unnoticed, or trying to get past some lasers that'll trigger an alarm if you trip them, there's an emphasis on thinking, not shooting here, to somewhat buck the stereotype.
While your child will need a lot of patience to play this, and it certainly isn't really suitable for younger children, there's a lot of good stuff in here too. An espionage thriller that'll make your child's brain work, Splinter Cell 3D has a lot of appeal.
Despite being a game about stealth, Splinter Cell 3D isn't actually all that gory. Enemies don't bleed when shot, and there's no excessive gore. What there is are a number of themes that parents may be uncomfortable with their children playing. This is a game that's all about being a spy - a secret agent - and that means killing a lot of people, quietly. Whether you're sneaking up behind them and breaking their neck, or slitting their throat, you don't see anything apart from the action, and thankfully, the toe-nail curling sound effects are notable by their absence. You're also never forced to kill enemies, and are instead given the option to knock them out.
There's also an emphasis on hiding people's bodies - whether they've been knocked out, or killed, an unconscious-or-otherwise soldier is enough to alert guards to your presence, which makes hiding the bodies where no-one can see them a morbid, if essential task.
The dialogue, meanwhile, contains several uses of the word sh*t and b**ch, although they're fairly infrequent. Similarly rare are minor references towards sex, and the use of drugs - but both are fairly minor.
Sadly, Splinter Cell 3D doesn't have a multiplayer mode (despite the original game having both competitive and co-operative modes), making it a bit of a disappointment.
Age Ratings
Format Reviewed: Nintendo 3DS
